Apparatus for covering rayon packages



.Filed June 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A April 8, 1947. A. J. 1 MORITZ 2,413,657

APPARATUS` FOR COVERING RAYON PACKAGES Filed June 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet-2 Emme/whomV 3v dn'azz LIL/01122 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. J. MoRlTz APPARATUS FOR COVERING RAYON PACKAGES Filed June 5, 1944 ANJ M Patented Apr. 8, 1947 APPARATUS FOR COVERING RAYON PACKAGES Y Adrian J. L. Moritz, Enka, N. C., assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. C., a' corporation of Delaware Application `lune 5, 1944, Serial No. 538,841

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in the manufacture of rayon and more particularly to a method of covering freshly spun rayon cakes and an apparatus dapted for such use. j

In the production of rayon according to thc centrifugal process, the thread is collected in a rapidly rotating bucket or pot. During the spinning operation the convolutions of thread are laid up in the bucket to form a relatively hard self-supporting package known in the art as a cake. When the spinning operation has continued for a period of time 4suflicient to build up a cake of the desired thickness the cake is removed from the bucket and the thread is subjected to the usual after-treating operations in the original cake form. In view of the fact that the thread in freshly spun cakes is subject to damage from handling during the after-treating operations it has become the-custom to cover the cakes with elastic socks or sleeves which are sufciently porous to permit the permeation of the after-treating liquids therethrough but nevertheless constitute a sufficient covering to protect -v the threads during normal handling.

The past practice has involved the manual application of the socks or sleeves to respective rayon cakes. In the normal application of the sleeves special apparatus has not been employed and the covering of the cakes by hand is very Vtedious and is, of course, relatively slow. In fact, the manual application of the sleeves to the cakes treatment to which the cakes are subjected. A1- though the manual application of the sleeves may not appear upon casual observation to involve a substantial loss of time, actually it is well known to those skilled in the art that in rayon plants in which thousands of cakes are after-treated daily the manual application of the sleeves to the individual cakes involves a tremendous loss of time.

The present invention has as an object the application of socks or sleeves to cakes of thread in a manner by which the above-referred to disadvantages are overcome.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus which materially reduces and in some forms substantially eliminates the manual manipulation of the sleeves in the ap plication thereof to the thread cakes.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a method for covering cakes of rayon and the like in an orderly manner and the effecting of a. relatively tight it between the covering sleeves and the respective cakes without the dis- `tends to inhibit thefeiciency of the overall Vthe lower end of the sleeve is gradually applied 2 placement of layers of the thread in the cake or injuring the thread. I

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a method of, and apparatus for, the application of sleeves to rayon cakes Without incurring tangling of portions of the sleeves or eifecting wrinkling thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of a normal rayon cake as formed in a centrifugal bucket machine;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention with a part being broken away to illustrate the elements thereofin section;

Figure 3 rillustrates the apparatus shown in Figure 2 with a sleeve positioned thereover with the upper end folded in a manner to permit the placing. of a cake thereover;

Figure 4 is a view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 with the cake and supporting means partially depressed to show the manner in which upwardly along the outer surface of a cake;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 in which the cake and supporting mechanism have been completely depressed whereby the lower end of the sleeve has been completely applied to the outer wall of the cake, the sleeve as illustrated having been unfolded at the upper end and spread outwardly to permit it to be drawn over the upper edge of the cake and downwardly over the side wall thereof;

Figure 6 illustrates a cake completely covered with a sleeve, the top part of which is shown overlapping the bottom part along the outer wall of the cake;

Figure 7 is a view of a modified form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 is` a View in partial elevation illustrating. another modified form of apparatus' constructed inaccordance with the present invent on;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 illustrates a sleeve positioned over the modified form of apparatus shown in Figure 8 with an end of the sleeve folded over in position so that the apparatus is adapted to receive the cake for the application of the sleeve thereto;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 in which a cake has been inserted into the apparatus and i i 'y l 2,418,657

the sleeve applied tothe lower yportion thereof; and' Figure 12 is aview similar to Figure 11 in which the folded end of the sleeve has been forced outwardly by a series of expanding fingers and ,5

spread over theuppen edge of the cake and the upper portion of the outer wall thereof by the upward movement of the cake support after the fingers have been expanded.

In referring to the drawings inl detail and more with a knob I3 at the upper end thereof. Pedestal I 2 hasits lower end I4 of reduced diameter,

which portion I4 is adapted to be received in and 20 be guided by a cylinder I5 extending from a base I6 upon which the pan I0 is supported. A disc I1 provided with a central opening I8 is fitted over the reduced portion I4 of pedestal I2 and is resiliently maintained against shoulder I9 formed 25 on pedestal I2 as a result of the reduced diameter of the lower portion thereof. Disc I1, while being of an area to substantially fill the cross-section of pan I0, has suicient clearance between it andthe wall of p'an I 0 to permit its free move- 30 ment within the pan. A coil spring engaging the bottom of the disc I1 encircles portion I4 of the pedestal. Spring 20 is supported by bottom 2I of pan I6 and therebyprovides resilient support for disc I1 and pedestal I2. Mounted radially 35 in base I6 is a. spring latch member 22 having a handle 23 and a notch-engaging bar 24. Bar 24 is normally urged to'bear against portion Il vof pedestal I2 and a groove 25 is formed in portion I 4` of the pedestal whereby when the pedestal is 40 depressed to a position where the groove is opposite bar I4 the bar will beforced into the groove and will retain the pedestal in a depressed condition until the latch is withdrawn by the handle 23. When the latch is withdrawn and no pressure is placed upon the knob I3 of pedestal I2,

spring 20 will cause the pedestal and disc I1 to be elevated to the position shown in Figure 2,

A sock or sleeve 26 isillustrated in Figures 2-6,

inclusive, the sleeve being shown in the various positions it assumes during the application of the sleeve to the cake as the apparatus is operated. The application of a sleeve to a cake with the use of the apparatus shown in Figures 2-5, in-

clusive, may be readily understood by reference to 55 the figures. In Figure 3 the sleeve 26 .is shown as having its lower end drawn over pan I0 and its upper end foldedover knob I3: l'Iheconiiguration of knob I3 maybe modified in various ways,

- such as, providing a cup shaped'or hollow upper portion to hold `the sleeve 26 in folded condition. In this position a cake II may be readily placed over the pedestal whereupon the sleeve assumes the position shown in Figure 2. Upon forcing the pedestal-downwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 the extending portion vof the sleeve which originally was caused to overlie; the outer wall of the pan I0 is drawn upwardly over the upper edge of the pan and is applied evenly and with uniform tension to the lower portion of the outer wall of the cake. As this operation is continued 'and the pedestal, together with the'disc I1 is deto the outer lower portion of the cake andthe Arranged 15 inner wall of the cake. When the pedestal has reached the position illustrated in Figure 5, bar

'24 of latch 22 enters groove 25 of portion I4 of the pedestal, andthe elements are"'maintained in the position illustrated; whereupon the operator may spread the folded portion of' sleeve 26 outwardly and downwardly over the upper portion of the cake to a position where the ends of the sleeve overlap. When the operation has reached this stage man bar 24 is withdrawn by means of handle 23 and spring 20 causes the ped-v estal and ,disc I1.' together with the cake and sleeve applied thereto, to be moved upwardly rto the position illustrated in Figure 2, whereupon the cake in the form illustrated in Figure 6 is removed and ready` for the after-treating operations. l

Although the apparatus shown in Figures 2-6, p inclusive, inherently avoids the creation of relative sliding action Vbetween the sleeve andthe cake, a simplified device such as that shown in Figure '7 may be used if the cake and sleeve are .manipulated with suiiicient care to` avoid injuring the thread in the cake. The modified form of apparatus illustrated in Figure '7 includes a pan 21 and a rigid pedestal 28 mounted concentrically of the pan 21 and anchored in base 29 by means of screw threads 30. Pedestal-28. is provided with a knob 3|.

In utilizing the simplified form of device illustrated in Figure '1, a sleeve 26 is drawn over the pan 21 in a manner-vl similar to that illustrated vin Figure 3 and the upper portion of the sleeve is folded upon knob 3|. The cake II is then placed over pedestal' 28 whereupon it engages the upper edge oi pan 21 and the sleeve is applied to the outer surface of the cake in the manner heretofore described vwith respect to the preferred form of the invention. If the folded upper portion of .the sleeve is permitted to unfold and move downwardly with the cake, relative sliding action between the cake and sleeve will be eliminated. After the cake has been fully inserted within the pan 21 the upper portion of the sleeve may be spread outwardly over the upper portion of the cake and if desired it may be spread downwardly over the wall of pan 21 whereupon the cake may be withdrawn and the sleeve will assume the position upon the cake 'illustrated in Figure 6.

The modified form of apparatus, illustrated in Figures 8-12 inclusive, is formed with a cupshaped, member orpan 32 mounted upon a base 33. The base 33 functions as a bottom for the pan 32 and is supported lover a circular opening in a platform or table 34.4 The circular opening is about the same size as the circumference of the pan 32. 'I'he base 33 is provided with a series of radial slots 35 adapted to guide respectivel arms 36 in their movement to and from the center of the pan. l

Arms 36 are adapted to be moved in unison to and from the center of the pan by suitable means arranged below base 33. The arms 36 may, for instance, be caused to expand -outwardly by means of a mechanism such as that shown in U. S.

Patent No. 2,213,366 to Peter P. Kriek. Each of the arms is provided with extensions 31 at their upper ends which are bent outwardlyand then downwardly to form fingers 38. Since the arms 96 are supported from a point below the base 33 and are fixed against vertical movement, the slots 35 in the bottom of the pan act as guide-ways for the arms but the pan and lbase may nevertheless be reciprocated toward and away from extensions 31 when desired. In order to effect the elevation and depression of the pan 32 and base se, o` yoke se is fixed to the bottom of bose s3 and a shaft 40 on which a collar il is mounted, is passed through the yoke and extends through the base. The lower end of shaft 40 is connected to the telescoping member of the mechanism disclosed in the said Kriek patent, which telescoping member also acts to expand arms 35. When the arms have been fully expanded, the collar il will contact the yoke 39 as a result of the upward motion of shaft 40, and upon further upward movement of shaft 40, the pan 32 and base 33 will be raised as shown in Figure 12.

In applying a sock or sleeve to a cake with the use of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 8-12 inclusive, an end and intermediate portion of the sleeve is drawn over the outer surface of pan 32 and the upper end of the sleeve is folded over extensions 31 of arms 36. A cake is then placed over the arms 36 and inserted into the pan 32 in the same manner as the cake is inserted in the pan 21 of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 7.

As the cake is passed downwardly into the pan 32 the extending end of the sleeve is drawn upwardly over the edge of the pan and Pis applied to the outer surface" of the cake. At this stage in the operation the mechanism for expanding the arms 36 is put into operation and the arms together with the extensions are forced outwardly and resultantly spread the upper previously folded portion of the sleeve to a position overlying the upper edge of the cake. The collar then contacts the yoke which effects the elevation Various modications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention is to be limited only to the extent of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An apparatus for covering a rayon cake with a tubular sleeve which comprises a stationary pan provided with a flat bottom and a cylindrical side wal1 having a circumference slightly greater than a cake of rayon, said side-wall being free of obstructions to thereby receive a tubular sleeve thereover and a rayon cake therein, a base mem ber for supporting the pan, a rigid pedestal iixedly mounted concentrically of the pan and anchored in the base member, said pedestal extending vertically a distance greater than the height of said wall, means on the upper end of the pedestal for loosely retaining one end of the sleeve in a gathered condition whereby when the other end of the sleeve is expanded over the wal1 of the pan and a cake is deposited over the pedestal retaining the gathered portion and inserted in the pan, the expanded portion of the sleeve is caused to cover a substantial part of the outer surface of the cake and the gathered end is simultaneously permitted to unfold and move downwardly whereupon the remainder of the cake surface can be covered by spreading the upper portion outwardly over the wall of the pan.

ADRIAN J. L. MORITZ.

REFERENCES' CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS British Nov. 23, 1944 

